Monday, 12 October 2009

CinemaSpy has an extensive report with behind-the-scenes pics and information about the sets they got from production designer Richard Hudolin. Beyond that, they also have the highlights from the Q&A session with Sasha Roiz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Eric Stoltz, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, Polly Walker and Mark Stern.

IESB.net will be posting their report in the coming days. Here is a preview:

Caprica is the real estate sci-fi geek dreams are made of. Graystone Manor was shot on location for the pilot, which left the set designers no alternative but to recreate a $12 million West Vancouver home on the studio set once the series was given the go-ahead. Cold, austere and impeccably accessorized, Graystone Manor is the perfect environmental foil to the warm, personal and cozy space of the Adama residence. The cast members recognize their set as "like a whole other person" as Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) put it during the Q&A, informing their scenes, setting the tone, and infusing new meanings to the personalities of the series' families and relationships. Building on the history and lore of Battlestar Galactica has been both daunting and invigorating for this cast but Paula Malcolmson is quick to point out that they, Caprica, come before and, therefore, it is a whole other world and existence from BSG. Like BSG, Caprica's story begins in tragedy but these characters are given time to mourn and choose their paths of recovery which leads to a much more intricate and internally-motivated story development than the refugee Colony Fleet was allowed.

In related news, the rumours about production delays resurfaced this week when CinemaSpy posted an update on the story that the delays were caused by problems with the scripts. They quoted SyFy exec Mark Stern as saying:

"Trying to find [the] journey with these characters has been really interesting. I know for the writers — in terms of where you think you're going to go — turns out to be, not exactly where you ... there are things that have been pitched out ... this, episode 8, we're going to do this, and it's going to be a whole torture sequence on this other planet, and it's like 'no, actually that doesn't work in terms of where the stories have taken us'. And we actually took a break. We shut down for a few weeks so that we could, at the mid-point ... so that we could regroup and say, 'OK, what have we learned from the first ten; where do we want to go from here?'"

AirlockAlpha promptly dismissed their report as an exaggeration. A few snippets from the article: :

Where most other Syfy shows get a decent-sized hiatus during the mid-point of its production schedule, "Caprica" didn't get that luxury because of the Olympics, and had been pushing work at break-neck speed to be done ahead of the Olympics. (...)

"Some people want to make more out of this than what it is," the source said. "We're talking about a brand-new series with a concept we've never really tried before. It's something that would normally be worked out slowly, but 'Caprica' never got that luxury. Even with the break, this show has burned through production far faster than most other 20-episode orders, and breaks are sometimes part of the game. Syfy isn't even dreaming about canceling this show yet, not before they even have a chance to air a single episode." (...)

"Production in general is really just laying track ahead of a train," [Mark Stern] said. "What you see in this show is something that's really working and special. If it weren't for the Olympics, there wouldn't even be a discussion. But because of the Olympics, we have been really up against that, and we really have to be out of production [by then]. What would be an easy decision of 'let's take a hiatus' became a very difficult and expensive proposition, but we did it anyway because it was worth it."

Friday, 9 October 2009

Alessandra Torresani and Luciana Carro will attend the Big Apple Comic-Con in New York next week, along with several other familiar names from the Battlestar 'verse: Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas, Rekha Sharma and Mark Sheppard.

The biggest Big Apple Comic-Con & Video Game Expo ever is preparing to hit New York City on October 16-18 at Pier 94 in Manhattan, W. 55th Street & 12th Ave. Now a part of Wizard World, this convention will feature the biggest celebrities of movies, TV, comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, rock & roll, baseball, boxing, MMA, pro wrestling, modeling, and pop culture.

For the announcement and a complete list of celebrities who will attend, visit Fanbolt.com.

The nice folks over at The Deadbolt had a chance to spend a day on the sets of Caprica, Stargate Universe and Sanctuary on October 6. They will be posting a full report in the coming days so keep an eye on their site. From the opening post:

Our second set tour stop within the lake shores of Caprica summed it up best when we sat down for panel interviews with Caprica cast members Polly Walker, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, and Sasha Roiz. I asked both Esai Morales and Eric Stoltz what motivated them to step into television at this stage in their careers after making names for themselves in the film world years earlier. Interestingly, Eric Stoltz took the reigns on the question, relating his decision to step into the world of Caprica and television at large as similar to the Indie film movement in the early '90s that saw new directors push creative boundaries and take risks with rich and complex material. As Stoltz related, television is now entering a new era that gives actors more to work with in terms of material on par with high caliber films. In many ways, as Eric Stoltz revealed, it's exciting to be part of a stimulating new movement that consistently and creatively challenges an actor in new and interesting ways.

Thursday, 8 October 2009

Kevin Murphy, who previously worked as a writer/producer on Ed, Desperate Housewives, Reaper and Valentine, has joined Caprica as a new co-executive producer, according to Variety.

From the article:

As for "Caprica," Murphy has signed on as co-exec producer and is already working on his first script for the show.

"As a rabid 'Battlestar Galactica' fan, it's hard not to go in that writers room and not just grin ridiculously," Murphy said. "These are the people who made the best TV show ever. To be able to be a part of the legacy of that show, I'd be willing to pay them for that."

Monday, 5 October 2009

Couch Potato at SpoilerTV will be attending a press conference with actors from SyFy's three shows - Caprica, Stargate Universe and Sanctuary - tomorrow (Oct. 6) in Vancouver. If you have questions you would like to submit, head over to SpoilerTV.

SyFy has launched a new marketing campaign for Caprica. The two-hour film that was released on DVD earlier this year was screened at the San Diego Film Festival this week and it will be shown at the Woodstock Film Festival tomorrow (Oct. 2) and at the Austin Film Festival later this month, with Jeffrey Reiner and Esai Morales in attendance.

From the press release:

Syfy is launching the first phase of its innovative national marketing campaign behind the highly anticipated January 22, 2010, premiere of Caprica with screenings at the prestigious San Diego, Woodstock and Austin Film Festivals.

Humanity's storyline takes completely new twists with Caprica, which follows two rival families and their patriarchs Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) as they compete and thrive in the vibrant realm of the 12 Colonies, a society recognizably close to our own. This original, standalone series will feature the passion, intrigue, political backbiting, and family conflict in an omnipotent society that is at the height of its blind power and gloryand, unknowingly, on the brink of its fall. Caprica also stars Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone).

Said Blake Callaway, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Syfy: As heir to the rich legacy of Battlestar Galactica, Caprica is more than a new television series. With its pedigree of talent, cinematic look, feel and design along with the intelligence of the programs vision and provocative story lines, Caprica is a natural fit for a film festival. Reflecting the unique way were planning on marketing the series, San Diego, Woodstock and Austin Film Festivals are great platforms to kick off the Caprica marketing campaign.

Caprica Film Festival Screenings

San Diego Film Festival on Saturday, September 26.

At Woodstock Film Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary, Friday, October 2, and Sunday, October 4.

Caprica Producer/Director Jeffrey Reiner and star Esai Morales will attend the Austin Film Festival Saturday, October 24 screening as well as participate on panels.

Caprica is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson. Jonas Pate serves as co-executive producer and director. Jeffrey Reiner (Friday Night Lights) directed the pilot.